Tool for removing tear strips from tin cans



March 12, 9 7 D. A. BATTISTELLO TOOL FOR REMOVING TEAR STRIPS FROM TIN CANS Filed 001:. 7, 1955 INVENTOR. DOMINICIABATTISTELLO.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Otfice 2,784,867 Patented Mar. 12, 1957 TOOL FOR REMOVING TEAR STRIPS FROM TIN CANS Dominic A. Battistello, Malden, Mass.

Application October 7, 1955, Serial No. 539,086

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to tools for removing the tear strips from tin cans containing food, tobacco and other kinds of ingredients.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool that will replace the conventional key that is used to remove the tear strips from tin cans.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this type that has means thereon from removing the tear strip from the tool after it has been removed from the can.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a tool embodying the invention in position for removing a tear strip from a tin can;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tool;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the tool; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, wherein like parts are designatedby like reference numerals, a tool embodying the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

The tool comprises a crank arm 11 having a hand grip or knob 12 at one end thereof on one face thereof.

At the opposite end of the crank arm 11 there is an enlargement 13 on the opposite face thereof and a short shaft 14 extends outwardly of the enlargement 13 at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the crank arm 11.

A slot 15 is provided in the outer end of the shaft 14 and the outer ends of the legs 16 and 17 formed by the slot 15 are tapered inwardly toward the slot, as shown in Fig. 3.

A recess 18 is formed in the enlargement 13 in circumjacent relation to the shaft 14 and one end of a coil spring 19 is rigidly secured to the enlargement within the recess 18.

The spring 19 is also in circumjacent relation to the shaft 14 and the opposite end of the spring 19 is rigidly secured to a circular sliding collar 20.

The collar 20 has a central opening 21 to receive the shaft 14 and the peripheral edge of the collar 20 is bevelled, as shown at 22 in Fig. 3. I

The knob 12, crank arm 11, enlargement 13 and shaft 14 are of one piece and may be made of any suitable material.

The tool replaces keys that are used in removing tear strips from cans by a twisting action and when in use the can to be opened is laid on a flat surface.

The slot 15 in the shaft 14 is then positioned over the tab on the end of the tear strip. As the shaft is pushed downward on the tab, the collar 20 slides upwardly on the shaft until it engages the enlargement 13. In this position the collar will rest on the can when the tear strip S is being removed from the can C as in Fig. l.

The knob 12 is then grasped by one hand and by turning the crank arm 11 the tear strip S will be removed from the can C.

When the strip S has been removed from the can the collar 20 will, by means of the spring 19, move the tear strip S off of the shaft 14.

The bevelled ends of the shaft 14 will force the tab on the tear strip outwardly so that the tear strip may be easily removed from the can.

There has thus been provided an efiicient tool that is simple in operation, sturdy and composed of very few parts.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the tool will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to he understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A tool for removing tear strip closures from metal cans comprising a crank arm provided with a knob at one end, the other end of the arm being enlarged and provided with a depending annular skirt, a shaft depending from the large end of the crank arm and in spaced relation to the skirt, thus defining an annular recess, a coiled compression spring on said shaft having its upper portion located within the said recess, a collar slidable on said shaft and against the force of the spring, said shaft being bifurcated to form a slot extending inwardly from its free end and for receiving a tear strip windable on said shaft as the crank arm is rotated and while the collar is compressing the spring.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS:

Germany Dec. 17, 1930 

